The fourth WGS Dance Competition in aid of Maua hospital in Kenya took place on Monday 1st March.  Organised by Mrs Buckley and Mrs Robinson, this year's theme was Dancing through the Decades with each year group representing a decade. Over £2200 was raised and over the last 8 years £10,000 has been sent directly to former Withington pupil Dr Claire Smithson who works at the hospital.

View a picture gallery of the Dance Competition

The event began as a Form Charity event when Mrs Buckley was an Upper Fifth Form Tutor but it so captured the imagination of the girls Mrs Buckley has run it as a bi-ennial school event ever since.

This year was the best ever for atmosphere and quality of dancing. The Upper Sixth Geographers aided by the Lower Sixth group helped in the organisation and presentation. It is always an inclusive event involving nearly every girl in the School. Girls gave it all their effort and enthusiasm plus there was wonderful competitive edge as well as real community spirit amongst the Forms.

They all congregated in the Sports Hall to wait to be called on stage, the sea of colourful costumes all practicing around the Sports Hall was an amazing sight and added to the anticipation.

The Winner of the Senior Cup was Form UVW who danced a very skilful and enthusiastic dance to represent the 1970s with their own special 1970s band whilst the winner of the Junior Cup was LIVW who gave a colourful and lively demonstration of dance in the 1960s.There was a winning Form for each decade as well as certificates for Most Entertaining, Best Teamwork and Most Effective Costumes. The judges who included professional dancers, a model and dance teachers had to work very hard to reach their decisions and the winning teams were loudly applauded.

Whilst the judges were busy debating a very brave team of both male and female teaching staff caught the spirit of the 1920s by dancing to the musical overture from the film Chicago. The highlight of the dance was Mrs Pickering disguised in a black wig taking the part of Roxy, the loud excitement from the girls in the Arts Centre culminated in the audience giving the staff and especially Mrs Pickering a standing ovation.

The dancing entertainment was then completed with 5 Sixth Form girls performing spectacular individual dances ranging from modern ballet and tap to street dance and a range of traditional dance from the Ukraine, Ireland and India. The sheer grace and expertise of these individual performances was a very fitting end to an evening which celebrated the art of dance over time. It is an evening that captured the spirit of Withington and is an occasion all the girls will remember for a long time.